The Castletowns By Erika R and Justin G Introduction- During the Tokugawa period, there were towns in Japan that attracted many different people, like peasants, artisans, traders, and samurai from all around the country. They soon were called Castle Towns; jokamachi in Japanese. These were very important to the military as well, because it was an extension to their defenses. These towns became Japan’s biggest cities. The Samurai Castles- The samurai castles were places that were built in Japan for the samurai. The samurai were forced to live in the Castletowns no matter what. The first castles were built out of rough wood. These castles were protected by natural defenses. The samurai had forts that sheltered themselves to protect and defend a lord’s estate or conquering neighboring lands. There were many types of castles. They used the daimyo’s castle for fighting and conquering other neighboring lands and countries, as it was considered a base for fighting. Castle Structure- There were many different types of castles that differed based on where they were located, what they were built out of, and what certain symbols of the castles meant. The three main types of castles were the mountaintop castles (yamajiro), the flatland-mountain castles (hirayamajiro), and the flatland castles (hirajiro). These castles were built on small hills or plains. The typical castle consisted of the three rings of defense. The main ring was the honmaru, the second ring was the ninomaru, and the third ring was the sannomaru. The castle tower was on the honmaru and the lords usually lived on the ninomaru. The main construction material for all of these projects was wood. Most of these castles were built and located alongside a trade route. Everyday Art- Many different types of arts and crafts from Japan were borrowed by the Chinese. Many Japanese artisans improved their methods and designs; they turned regular normal objects into beautiful works of arts. Different bowls, dishes, wine bottles, cosmetic boxes, and other household objects were crafted using a special paint (laccquerware). Lacquer was very important to adding color, usually red or black to tree sap. Artisans used lacquer very often especially when painting it on wood or paper to make a hard surface. The artisans made pottery and jewelry. Swordsmiths also sold blades to the samurai, and sold copper or other metals of armor. They also sold jewels, lacquer, and designs all in gold. The armor was decorated beautifully with lacquer designs. The most important was the helmet. They would sell the samurai helmets beautifully decorated at the Castletowns. A good helmet would signify that that you are a very powerful samurai. History of the Castletowns- Japan was divided into dozens of independent states that fought each other. This happened because the central government authorities had weakened during this time. These states fought for defensive purposes and Japan put small castles on the tops of hills to spot intruders. Two of the main reasons for these castles were to be defensive platforms and retreats during an attack. Once Oda Nobunaga had gained full authority of Japan, he ordered more and larger castles to be built around Japan for these purposes. These castles that had been built then became military headquarters. Life in the Castle Town- Castletowns was well planned, with carefully laid out roads, walls, gates, bridges and fresh water. The towns were divided for high and low ranking samurai, soldiers, craft-workers, traders, and peasants. The samurai were dependent on these classes for military equipment, and tools. The lower classes were also relied upon to supply food including dried fish, pickled vegetables, rice, tea, and wine for others. The clerks ran the administration of the castle and collected taxes, and scribes. The messengers kept samurai in touch with the shogun; the town relied on the work of traders and the self-sufficient craftsmen and farmers living in them. Lower classes worked to cook, clean, make cloth thing and look after the children of samurai families. Poets and musicians came to town as entertainers. The town also contained barracks in which soldiers lived, trained, and kept watch over enemy territory.
Conclusion- In conclusion, the Castletowns were a very important part of the Tokugawa period and let people trade. The Castletowns were also relied on for many families and how they lived and how they have learned today.
Citations
Schomp, Virginia. Japan: In the Days of the Samurai. New York: Benchmark Books, 2002. Print
Deal, William E. Handbook to Life in Medieval and Early Modern Japan. New York: Facts on File, Inc., 2006.
"Castle Towns." , Life in Feudal Japan, Medieval and Early Modern Societies. Web. 19 Mar. 2012. <http:/www.skwirk.com.au/p-c_s-14_u-177_t-516_c-1919/act/history/medieval-and-early-modern-societies-japan/life-in-feudal-japan/castle-towns>.
Williams, Brian. Forts & Castles. New York, N.Y., U.S.A.: Viking, 1995. Print.
By Erika R and Justin G
Introduction- During the Tokugawa period, there were towns in Japan that attracted many different people, like peasants, artisans, traders, and samurai from all around the country. They soon were called Castle Towns; jokamachi in Japanese. These were very important to the military as well, because it was an extension to their defenses. These towns became Japan’s biggest cities.
The Samurai Castles- The samurai castles were places that were built in Japan for the samurai. The samurai were forced to live in the Castletowns no matter what. The first castles were built out of rough wood. These castles were protected by natural defenses. The samurai had forts that sheltered themselves to protect and defend a lord’s estate or conquering neighboring lands. There were many types of castles. They used the daimyo’s castle for fighting and conquering other neighboring lands and countries, as it was considered a base for fighting.
Castle Structure- There were many different types of castles that differed based on where they were located, what they were built out of, and what certain symbols of the castles meant. The three main types of castles were the mountaintop castles (yamajiro), the flatland-mountain castles (hirayamajiro), and the flatland castles (hirajiro). These castles were built on small hills or plains. The typical castle consisted of the three rings of defense. The main ring was the honmaru, the second ring was the ninomaru, and the third ring was the sannomaru. The castle tower was on the honmaru and the lords usually lived on the ninomaru. The main construction material for all of these projects was wood. Most of these castles were built and located alongside a trade route.
Everyday Art- Many different types of arts and crafts from Japan were borrowed by the Chinese. Many Japanese artisans improved their methods and designs; they turned regular normal objects into beautiful works of arts. Different bowls, dishes, wine bottles, cosmetic boxes, and other household objects were crafted using a special paint (laccquerware). Lacquer was very important to adding color, usually red or black to tree sap. Artisans used lacquer very often especially when painting it on wood or paper to make a hard surface. The artisans made pottery and jewelry. Swordsmiths also sold blades to the samurai, and sold copper or other metals of armor. They also sold jewels, lacquer, and designs all in gold. The armor was decorated beautifully with lacquer designs. The most important was the helmet. They would sell the samurai helmets beautifully decorated at the Castletowns. A good helmet would signify that that you are a very powerful samurai.
History of the Castletowns- Japan was divided into dozens of independent states that fought each other. This happened because the central government authorities had weakened during this time. These states fought for defensive purposes and Japan put small castles on the tops of hills to spot intruders. Two of the main reasons for these castles were to be defensive platforms and retreats during an attack. Once Oda Nobunaga had gained full authority of Japan, he ordered more and larger castles to be built around Japan for these purposes. These castles that had been built then became military headquarters.
Life in the Castle Town- Castletowns was well planned, with carefully laid out roads, walls, gates, bridges and fresh water. The towns were divided for high and low ranking samurai, soldiers, craft-workers, traders, and peasants. The samurai were dependent on these classes for military equipment, and tools. The lower classes were also relied upon to supply food including dried fish, pickled vegetables, rice, tea, and wine for others. The clerks ran the administration of the castle and collected taxes, and scribes. The messengers kept samurai in touch with the shogun; the town relied on the work of traders and the self-sufficient craftsmen and farmers living in them. Lower classes worked to cook, clean, make cloth thing and look after the children of samurai families. Poets and musicians came to town as entertainers. The town also contained barracks in which soldiers lived, trained, and kept watch over enemy territory.
Conclusion- In conclusion, the Castletowns were a very important part of the Tokugawa period and let people trade. The Castletowns were also relied on for many families and how they lived and how they have learned today.
Citations
Schomp, Virginia. Japan: In the Days of the Samurai. New York: Benchmark Books, 2002. Print
Deal, William E. Handbook to Life in Medieval and Early Modern Japan. New York: Facts on File, Inc., 2006.
"Japanese Castles." Japan-guide.com. Web. 27 Feb. 2012. <http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2296.html>.
Jcastle.info: The Guide to Japanese Castles. Web. 28 Feb. 2012. <http://www.jcastle.info/resources/view/10-Castle-Towns>.
"Castles." Visiting Japan. Web. 19 Mar. 2012. <http://www.handa-links.com/castles.asp>.
"Castle Towns." , Life in Feudal Japan, Medieval and Early Modern Societies. Web. 19 Mar. 2012. <http:/www.skwirk.com.au/p-c_s-14_u-177_t-516_c-1919/act/history/medieval-and-early-modern-societies-japan/life-in-feudal-japan/castle-towns>.
Williams, Brian. Forts & Castles. New York, N.Y., U.S.A.: Viking, 1995. Print.